Surry Announces Winners History Competition

Surry Early College High School student Logan Smith (left) of Mount Airy explains a project that he and Jade Hazelwood (not pictured) submitted for the National History Day competition held March 18 at Surry Community College. Their project placed second in Senior Group Exhibit.

Submitted photo | SCC

Surry Community College recently hosted a regional National History Day competition for middle school and high school students. All of the winners will advance to the state competition.

Surry Community College accommodated 77 students in this year’s district competition, which includes a 17-county area in northwestern North Carolina. It was the college’s fourth year hosting the event that attracted competitors from Millennium Charter Academy, Mount Airy Middle School, Surry Early College, Newton-Conover High School and Classical Scholars from Arden.

The community college is one of six statewide district hosts, along with the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, East Carolina University, Cape Fear Museum, and the Western Regional Archives in Asheville.

Richard Shelton, a history instructor at Surry Community College and district coordinator for the competition, said, “I am very proud of the continued growth of our district competition and look forward to several more schools and dozens more students participating next year.”

Categories of participation include exhibits, historical papers, dramatic performances, documentaries, and website designs, with all but historical papers open to individual or group participation.

Winners in the various categories are as follows: Lillian Ward, Alea Morgan and Emily Hare of Classical Scholars, placed first in Junior Group Documentary for their project “Searching for Virginia Dare.” Marli Gmyrek, Dana Jakubielski, Grace Kelsch, Cecilia Murrey, and Kathryn Worley of Classical Scholars, placed first in the Junior Group Performance for their skit “Exploring an Allegory: Wizard of Oz.”

Sophia Kiser and Calvin DeVore of Millennium Charter Academy in Mount Airy, placed first for their project “The Hellenistic Period”; and Ximema Hernandez and Logan Jones of Mount Airy Middle School placed second for their project “Apollo 13” in Junior Group Exhibit. Delia Ferry and Trisaia Legere of Millennium Charter Academy placed first in Junior Group Web Page for their project “Feudal Japan.” Luke Robinson, Nolan Haynes, Max Oakley, and Collin Phillips placed second for their web page “The Italian Renaissance.”

Genesis Zavala, Alexis Cabra, and Jaden Weaver of Newton-Conover High School placed first in the Senior Group Documentary for their project on Westward Expansion. Henry Cox, Aaron Hamm, Kathleen Sheets, and Tabb Shea of Newton-Conover High School won first place for Senior Group Web Page for their page on Mexican Immigration to the United States. Sydney Kerre, also from of Newton-Conover High School, placed first in Individual Web Page for her site “Encountering AIDS.”

MacKenzie Boyles of the Surry Early College High School placed first for Senior Individual Documentary; Lexis Collins, also a student at the Surry Early College, placed second; and Brenda Vang of of Newton-Conover High School placed third. Caitlinn McBride placed first in Senior Historical Paper, Teresa Vazquez placed second, and Anayeli Garcia placed third. All three attend the Surry Early College.

Dannis Cazarez and Melanie Irizarry of Surry Early College placed first in Senior Group Exhibit for their project “Rocket Man: Robert Goddard.” Logan Smith and Jade Hazelwood who also attend Surry Early College placed second. For Senior Individual Exhibit, Amy Wall placed first, Abigail Robertson placed second and Abriana Vail placed third. All attend the Surry Early College.

National History Day was established in 1974 and offers year-long academic programs that engage more than half a million middle and high-school students around the world annually in conducting original research on historical topics of interest. These research-based projects are entered into contests at the local, district, and state levels, where the top student projects have the opportunity to advance to the National Contest at the University of Maryland at College Park. National History Day also seeks to improve the quality of history education by providing professional development opportunities and curriculum materials for educators.

In addition to facilitating the discovery of the past, the program also helps students develop the following attributes that are critical for future success: critical thinking and problem-solving skills; research and reading skills, oral and written communication and presentation skills; self-esteem and confidence; and a sense of responsibility for and involvement in the democratic process.

For more information about getting involved in the National History Day competition, contact Shelton at (336) 386-3236 or [email protected]

Surry Early College High School student Logan Smith (left) of Mount Airy explains a project that he and Jade Hazelwood (not pictured) submitted for the National History Day competition held March 18 at Surry Community College. Their project placed second in Senior Group Exhibit.

http://mtairynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_SCC-National-History-Day.jpgSurry Early College High School student Logan Smith (left) of Mount Airy explains a project that he and Jade Hazelwood (not pictured) submitted for the National History Day competition held March 18 at Surry Community College. Their project placed second in Senior Group Exhibit. Submitted photo | SCC